The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-07-20
TIE BAPTISM OF JOHN,
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY REV. r.
S. M'ARTHUR, D. ..

Lesson ~ Of tho international Sorios
tTtlrd ounrter), for Sunday, July I'd.
Tcxt Of tho Lossom, Matt. cxi, 1917.
Golden Text, Matt. cxi, II.
We hero puss from tho ministry Of John to
that of Jesus. Tho transition hour Is tho bap-
tisnl Of the Lord by John; that was the most
important act in tho harbinger's mission.
Tho king was thus inaugurated, and the
work of tho forerumner wns nearing it's end.
Tho scene is profoundly instructive. Tho sin
less One submits to tho symbolical act Us If
he were Il simmer.
THE LESION.
v. 10. Then Cometh.-We cannot be quito
certain how long John tho Baptist had been
preaching up to this period. Perhaps, taking
Into account The comparative age Of the Rnn-
list, wo may suppose that the baptism Of
Christ took place six months after John boz
gan his ministry. Tradition, which has Sc
lected the spot. has also named tho winter as
tho time Of tho baptism. jesus came from
Nazareth Of Galilec. Mark !, 0 naineir the
town. We have already seen that this town
was about seventy miles north Of Jerusalem,
and perhaps about the Same distance from
the place of baptism. That spot would seem
to'bc tho same as where, in verses five and
six, multitudcs came to John for baptism.
Probably this was tho place already signnlized
in the history Of redemption. Here tho
lsraelites undol' Joshua crossed tho river;
here the waters showed the power Of God
When they wero miraculously opened by
iiiijah and Elisha. No wonder that muititudos
still come, rs many travellers inform us, and
plunge into the waters at this sacred spot.
v. ID. Johns Hesitancy John knew some
thing Of Christs miraculous birth, blameless
life and divine character. No wonder that
no shrank from performing this service.
Moro fitting it seemed that Jesus should ban
tie him. He felt unworthy to unloose his
Lords sandals, fur less to baptize him. This
~hcsitancy is in perfect harmony with other
examples of Johns marked humility. The
imperfect tense here employed shows that it
was not a momentary act when lie forbade
him. The word means that no tried to hin
der him. AS Afford suggests, the word i'm
plies active and earnest preventing with ges-
lures OF hand and tones Of the voice. When
Jesus spoke the words which removed Johns
doubt ho Immediately obcyed. Wo have
three accounts Of the baptism, but Matthew
alone tells us OF Johns hesitancy to perform
tho significant act. John already regarded
him as the Messiah, but no wanted and he
now received perfect assurance regarding his
divine amounting. Why should Christ, the
sinlcss one, submit to tho baptism of repent
nnce! The answer is not far to seek. He
was made sin for lis. Being in the likeness Of
sinful flesh, it was fitting that he should sub
init to tho rite intended for sinners. In this
spirit he performed many other acts, such as
keeping tho Passover, an observance belong
ing especially to sinners. His baptism thus
identified tho Lord with those whom no came
to redeem.
V. 10. Our Lords significant answer re-
moved Johns hesitancy. The reply also
shows Christ's design in submitting to tho
ordinance. Had Christ loft this act upper
formed, something would have been wanting
~jSsthat perfect Righteousness which he camo
70 manifest. Ho came in our nature not only
to die tho death Of atonement, but TO live a
lifo OF perfect obedience. Baptism Is MI act
OF obedience. Standing in our place it was
fitting TINT Jesus should submit to this ortli-
nance. What Christ sanctioned now by his
W example ho afterward commanded.
making it binding upon all his true disciples.
Tho baptism also WIS al inauguration Of
Christs public and official lifc. Tho 'nown
suggests that the relation Of subsection was
real, but was only temporary and would soon
give place TO n truer relationship. Christ
recognizes some ground for Johns doubt, but
John was to acquiesce for good, though tenn,
p0rnry reasons. Tho act is that OF Jeans no
we'll ns that 81 John.
V. IL. Went Up Straightway Out Of the
Watcr.--After tho act was performed the
heavens wero opened, tho clouds were parted,
and the spirit rs a dove descended.
AS n Doye.-Thisn may be understood Of tho
shape which was assumed, or Of the manner
of descent, so far rs these words are con.
cerned; but adding what Luke Inns said tIIuke
iii, ~, it is moro probable that tho reference
is rather to the form which the spirit chose to
assume. TO limit this expression to the man
ncr OF the descent is to do violence to the mt.
ural meaning Of tho expression. Nothing
could DO moro appropriate to tho character,
life and work Of Jesus than this dove like
form. John tells us John /, 32) that ut
abode on him." 1t was q permanent posses
sion; thus he received tho spirit without
measure; thus he was formally anointed for
his great work; thus hc officially entered
upon it. Then John and others knew, by
testimony from heaven, that he was tho Mes
siah.
V. IL. a Voice from Hcaven.-Tho voice
Of the eternal God was now heard. This
voice would confirm John most fully and
better prepare him for his further relations
to csus. 1t is possible that tho voice was
heard only by him and by Christ himself.
Tho term Son was applied to tho Messiah i'll
fsalms IL, 2, 10. On two other occasions the
voice OF the Father was heard-at the trans.
figuration and shortly before tho cruciHxion.
a comparison of tho records Of these three
events by all the ovangelists will show that
on every occasion Christ was engaged in
prayer. The three occasions abound in sne.
gestivo lessons. :
My Son, My Beloved Is a sort of
proper name; 1t is a distinctive title, The
remaining words arc from tho Messianic pro.
i 4, 49, - r----1 = - - III 80 . Stalk r.. .A